Mechanical movement



Sept. 30, 1952 c GRAY 2,612,052

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR 'cunmas 8.62m"

ATTORNEY Sept. 30, 1952 c, B, GRAY 2,612,052

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WNV IENTOIR CHARLES 5.6mm

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Charles B. Gray, Springfield, Pa.

Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,362

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cutting machines of the reciprocatory punch type known in the sheet metal cutting art as nibbling machines.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is to generally provide an improved construction of cross-head for effecting reciprocation of the cutting tool relatively to the sheet metal being cut and to provide in particular an improved arrangement for facilitating easy and quick replacement of the eccentric which operates upon the cross-head to reciprocate the same.

Inasmuch as it is the eccentric which bears the greatest load and is subject to greatest wear during normal operation of the nibbling machine, it becomes necessary to periodically renew the eccentric. In nibbling machines of conventional construction, the eccentric which operates upon the cross-head of the machine is normally formed as an integral part of the main drive shaft, and to replace or service such eccentric it becomes necessary to remove the cross-head, frequently by use of a block and tackle, in order to render the eccentric accessible.

The present invention aims to overcome the laborious difiiculties presently encountered in changing and renewing the eccentric by forming the latter as a separable part of the drive shaft and so disposing it operatively in relation to the drive shaft as to permit it to be axially withdrawn from the eccentric block to thereby permit lateral removal of the block from the cross-head, the eccentric being then free to be slipped outwardly through the cross-head, all without necessitating removal of the cross-head from its supporting guide.

A further and important object of the present invention is to provide a vertically reciprocable cross-head which operates in conjunction with a solid steel gag which is laterally shiftable relatively to the cross-head to permit vertical retraction of the cutting tool assembly into a position in which it is inoperative without interrupting vertical reciprocation of the cross-head, thus permitting the cutting tool assembly to be raised sufficiently above the die to enable stock to be placed in position between the die and the cutting tool for inside cuts to be made in the stock.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it

being understood that the invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the -accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred construction of machine embodying the principles of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nibbling machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion or operating head of the machine, showing the reciprocating cutting tool operatively locked to the cross-head by the gag hereinbefore referred to;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View as taken along theline 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view as taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional View as taken mong the line '55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cross-head employed in the machine of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the nibbling machine of the present invention includes a frame iii having an upper jaw l I and a lower jaw l 2. The upper jaw ll carries a'driving member l3 which is belted to or otherwise driven by a motor M which is suitably mounted upon the machine as shown. The driving member 13 is fixed to a main drive shaft l5 suitably journalled in the upper jaw II, this shaft l5 being disconnectably coupled to an axially alined secondary drive shaft It by means of a sleeve coupling member H which is com mo-nly keyed, as by the longitudinally extending key or spline It, to the axially alined shafts I5 and Hi. The shaft I6 is secured against axial shifting relatively to the coupling sleeve H by a readily removable set screw l9 and is provided at its forward end with an eccentric 20 for converting rotary motion of the drive shaft into reciprocatory motion of a cross-head 2i to which a suitable cutting tool may be connected. The lower jaw l2 of the machine is provided with a block 22 for receiving and holding in firmly adjusted position a suitable fixed die 23. a

The secondary drive shaft it, of which the eccentric Zii forms an integral part, is suitably journalled in the upper jaw of the machine, a bronze or other suitable bearing sleeve 24 being interposed between said shaft t6 and its bearing block 25. It will be noted that the eccentric 2i! normally projects freely beyond the forward end of the bearing block 25 and that the shaft I6 is spaced axially from the main drive shaft I 5 a distance somewhat greater than the axiallength of the eccentric 2t, thereby permitting the latter to be shifted rearwardly, as occasion may require, a distance sufficient to present the forward end of the eccentric in planar coincidence with the corresponding end of the bearing block 25.

The forward end of the upper jaw H is provided with a suitable fixed support 26 for the vertically reciprocable cross-head 2!. As most clearly appears in Figure 2, this cross-head 2i comprises a central main body member 21 from the top of which vertically projects a cylindrical post or stem 28 of reduced diameter. The body member 27 of the cross-head, the rear vertical side of which is flattened as at 49, is disposed for sliding movement vertically between the opposite side walls 28-29 of the cross-head guide channel formed in the support 26, while the vertically projecting cylindrical post 28 projects through the vertical bore 38 of a guide member 3| suitably secured in position within the upper portion of the cross-head guide channel. Preferably, a bronze or other suitable bearing sleeve 32 is interposed between the guide member 3! and the cross-head post 28. The front opening of the cross-head guide channel 26 may be closed, if desired, by a front cover plate 33 (as see Figure 1).

The central main body portion 2'! of the crosshead is transversely bored from front to rear thereof to provide an opening 35 in substantial axial registry with the drive shaft ll6, this opening being of a diameter sufliciently large to permit the eccentric shaft it to be drawn therethrough free of the cross-head when the crosshead block 35 is removed from the eccentric and the cross-head. This cross-head block 36 is normally seated upon the eccentric as shown in Figure 2 and rides in a crosswise slot 50 formed in the rear flattened face of the cross-head as the eccentric 2t converts the rotary motion of the drive shaft into the reciprocatory motion of the cross-head.

Extending vertically through the cross-head 2i is an upwardly biased rod 31 to the lower end of which is threadedly secured the swivel head 38 of a cutting tool assembly 39 of the character generally shown and described in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,227,081, granted December 31, 1940. The swivel head of the cutting tool assembly fits within a seat 42 formed in a plate member 4| removably secured to the bottom end of the cross-head, as by screws 5!, the swivel head being normally locked in said seat against movement relatively to the crosshead by means of a spring-pressed, retractable gag mechanism having an external operating knob 52, said mechanism being of the general character shown and described in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,849,829, granted March 15, 1932. This latter mechanism includes a solid steel gag 42 which is slidably fitted in a guideway 53 formed in a circular depending ex tension 54 of the cross-head. When the gag 42 is in its inmost position as shown in Figure 2, the vertical reciprocatory movement of the crosshead is transmitted to the cutting tool assembly 39.

On the other hand, when the gag is withdrawn against the bias of the spring 53, the cutting tool assembly 39 immediately rises under the lifting bias of the spring 44 to position the cutting edge of the tool above the die and the work to be out. To lower the cutting tool assembly into operative work-cutting position and so permit the gag to shift into its position shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the machine is fitted with a counterweighted lever M pivoted as at 45. to engage the rod 31 and through the latter depress the cutting tool assembly.

The plate M, which is secured to the bottom end of the cross-head 2!, forms a part of the latter and reciprocates vertically therewith. The transversely slotted circular bottom portion of the cross-head and the correspondingly shaped portion of the plate 49 are guided for vertical movement within embracing members 54--54 formed as integral, inwardly extending flanged parts of the cross-head support 26 at the bottom end thereof. The forward end of the plate 4| is provided with a pair of laterally spaced upwardly projecting jaws 5555 which in turn support a frontal plate 58 through which the shaft 56 of the gag projects and which serves as the frontal fixed abutment for the spring 43.

The opposite side walls 2929 of the crosshead guide are respectively provided with access openings it-4t, each of these openings being located at a point convenient and being of a size adequate for lateral withdrawal of the cross-head block 38 from the cross-head guide when said block is free of the eccentric shaft 16. To so free the cross-head block of its associated eccentric, it is merely necessary to withdraw the set screw 19 sumciently to permit the shaft 16 to be shifted axially toward the shaft l5 to thereby clear the eccentric from the cross-head block whereupon the latter is free to be removed from cross-head by way of one or the other of the openings lit-t5 in the side walls of the cross-head guide. Having so removed the cross-head block 36, it is only necessary to remove the springpressed lift rod 37, whereupon the eccentric shaft it may then be axially withdrawn from the machineforwardly through the opening 35 formed in the body portion 27 of the cross-head. To facilitate such withdrawal the forward end of the eccentric 22 may be tapped, as at 41, to threadedly receive a suitable tool (not shown) for pulling the shaft free of the cross-head. The spring-pressed lift rod 31 is threaded into the swivel head 38 or otherwise removably secured thereto, its removal from the cross-head being readily effected by applying a suitable tool to the enlarged diameter top member 48 which is nonrotatably pinned or otherwise secured to the lift rod 31 or which may be formed as an integral part of the latter.

It will be apparent that the throw or extent of reciprocation of the cross-head may be varied by providing eccentrics of varying degrees of eccentricity. The present construction, permitting as it does easy and quick removal of the eccentric, facilitates quick change of the eccentric as occasion may require and also makes possible easy renewal and servicing of eccentrics which may become worn out in use, all without necessitating removal of or otherwise disturbing the cross-head organization.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles of the invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In combination, a rigid frame structure, an operating shaft rotatably journalled in said frame structure, and having an eccentric at one end thereof, a cross-head block fitted upon said eccentric, a vertically reciprocable cross-head disposed in front of said operating shaft and having a portion intermediate its ends operatively associated with said block and eccentric so that rotary motion of said operating shaft is converted into reciprocating motion of said cross-head, a relatively fixed guide for said cross-head, means for effecting axial withdrawal fof said operating shaft rearwardly from said cross-head whereby to free said eccentric from said block, means providing for lateral removal of said block from said cross-head and its fixed guide and means providing for axial withdrawal of said operating shaft and its eccentric forwardly through said cross-head while the latter remains fitted in its guide.

2. In combination, a rigid frame structure, an

operating shaft rotatably journalled in said frame structure, and having an eccentric at one end thereof, a cross-head block fitted upon said eccentric, a vertically reciprocable cross-head disposed in front of said operating shaft and having a portion intermediate its. ends opera-' tively associated with said block and eccentric so that rotary motion of said operating shaft is converted into reciprocating motion of said cross-head, a relatively fixed guide for said cross-head, means for effecting axial withdrawal of said operating shaft rearwardly from said cross-head whereby to free said eccentric from said block, and means providing for lateral removal of said block from said cross-head and its fixed guide, said cross-head being provided with an opening extending transversely therethrough in axial registry with said operating shaft for withdrawal of the latter forwardly through said opening upon removal of said block from said cross-head. v

3. In combination, a rigid frame structure, an operating shaft rotatably journalled in said frame structure and having an eccentric at the forward end thereof, a cross-head block fitted upon said eccentric, a cross-head having a transverse slot formed in the rear face of an intermediate portion thereof, said block being slidably fitted in said transverse slot to effect reciprocation of said cross-head upon rotation of said operating shaft, a fixed guide for said crosshead having an opening in at least one side wall thereof through which said block may be laterally removed when said eccentric is disengaged from said block, and means for permitting axial shifting of said operating shaft rearwardly of said cross-head to effect disengagement of said eccentric from said block.

4. In combination, a rigid frame structure, an

operating shaft rotatably journalled in said frame structure and having an eccentric at the forward end thereof, a cross-head block fitted upon said eccentric, a cross-head having. a transverse slot formed in the rear face of an intermediate portion thereof, said block being slidably fitted in said transverse slot to effect reciprocation of said cross-head upon rotation of said operating shaft, a fixed guide forsaid crosshead having an opening in at least one side wall thereof through which said block maybe laterally removed when said eccentric is disengaged :from said block, and means for permitting axial shifting of said operating shaft rearwardly of said cross-head to effect disengagement of said eccentric from said block, said cross-head being provided with a transversely extending passage in registry with said operating shaft throughwhich the latter may bewithdrawn upon removal of said block from said cross-head.

CHARLES B. GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

